Tuesday, March 31, 2009

As I was taking my morning shower today, my little sister(not so little, she's 12) on her way to school knocked and shouted "You got mail from Sweden yesterday!".. and my shower turned into a showerthon!I got out and ran all around the house looking for it "it's here!it's here!!"

And what a beautiful way it was for me to start the day :) I have my very own Afiori goodies!! Thank you Maria-Thérèse!

I'll post more pictures when I get the chance to take some! Oh my God I am delighted!

Monday, March 30, 2009

I want a camera! So I would take beautiful pictures; more importantly, so I would enjoy the process of learning how to take beautiful pictures!

As I was going through PostSecret yesterday, I found this, and I have never really considered that, have you?

-----Email Message-----

Hi Frank,

I've been reading postsecret for a long time now and I've always wondered, is your real name Frank? It just seems too good! You're someone who asks people to be honest with themselves and share that on a postcard and your name is Frank. I think it's either a brilliant pseudonym or a very cool coincidence. I'm sure you get asked that all the time, but I was just wondering.

[Thanks for your kind message. Yes, my real name is Frank.]

PostSecret

that is in Mecca, Saudi Arabia..that is my father and little brother looking very cute in their Ihram

You know what sound I love? I love the sound of shoes stepping in stepping class, all in harmony! I love the sound of water! I love the soothing sound of my boyfriend's voice when he sings...he has the most amazing voice..!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

1. Respond and rework. Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question you dislike with a question of your own invention; add a question of your own. 2. Tag eight other un-tagged people. (I TAG ANYONE WHO READS THIS)

What is your current obsession? Spring, working out, omelet sandwichesDo you use canvas or plastic bags when you go shopping? Neither..I just carry the stuff if/whenever I can.Do you nap a lot? Not at all!Who was the last person you hugged? Mohammed, and that was, 2 days ago.What’s for dinner? I have no idea!What was the last thing you bought? A floral skirt and a matching top. And movie tickets!What are you listening to right now? youtube, playing the slumdog millionaire soundtrackWhat is your favorite weather? sunny, with a slight breezeWhat’s on your bedside table? Books and my phone (for alarm purposes)Say something to the person/s who tagged you. Michelle from Oh, Mishka :) You have such a pretty blog and I didn't even know you read mine!If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Zamalek, Cairo,Egypt. Or in Alexandria, Egypt. And definitely France or Greece or Italy lol I couldn't decide on JUST ONE!Favorite vacation spot? I would certainly enjoy anywhere if I am determined to. But I love a serene sort of getaway. Name the things you can’t live without. my loved ones, Cairo, Coffee, optimism and internetWhat would you like to have in your hands right now? a better job's contract, and an engagement ring.What is your favorite tea flavor?Assam and Moroccan mint!What would you like to get rid of? Flab! LOL and my temper problemsIf you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Rhodes probably.. What did you want to become as a child? A genetic engineer.What do you like better, e-mail or telephone calls? It depends on the situation, but I think phone calls.What is your favorite sport to play? I wish I played Handball, I only go to the gym for sports!What was your favorite concert you attended?Mohammed Mounir, because it was the weirdest, it was like a cultural shock to me. I enjoy my boyfriend's concerts, too! I always feel so proud of him :)What is your favorite flower? A dark red rose, and the tiny little flowers that grow in the grass!

Yesterday, we watched Slumdog Millionaire, how amazing is that movie? It was very touching and hit me as true, thing is we have very similar slums here in Egypt, and no one ever does anything about them. We also have the same violence (police station) and the begging.. so, yeah, the movie hit me and it moved the little voice within me that nags "this has to change". I am also in love with Frienda Pinto's simplicity, I have that kind of skin color, yellowish tan and I love this; the music was pretty!..anyway, I couldn't believe that Dev Patel is only 19! (the kids were also incredibley cute!) Can you tell I loved the movie?

Saturday, March 28, 2009

For what it’s worth, it’s never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There’s no time limit… start whenever you want… you can change or stay the same. There are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. I hope you see things that stop you. I hope you feel things that you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again

The other day I was thinking, what does it take to be appreciated and valued..what does it actually take. And I realized, it takes very simple, few things. Very Simply, you need:

A heart of Gold

A precious soul

A rich mind.

For a heart of gold, you need to be sincere and in that you will find warmth. You need to actually care, and in that you will find the radiance with which you will shine.
For a precious soul, you need to look for beauty in everything around you, and in that moment when you find everything beautiful, know that you have a precious soul.
As fir richness of the mind, the one thing you are passionate about is the one thing no one knows as much about!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

As I was on my work today, I thought of giving you all an idea about driving in Egypt; we have one rule: There are no rules. And thought I should give you a tutorial in bullets (since it's Wednesday, bulleted Wednesday)

But then, I was introduced by the very amazing Anais (who works with me and I simply adore!) to Edgar Cruz and I was instantly reminded by Stanley Jordan. And I thereby bring to you;The Music Appreciation Post

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

I just got an award! the Kreativ Blogger award! And I must pass the award on to 7 bloggers that I love, for different reasons. For the recipients, be sure to do the same and to tag seven others and let them know that they have won.Seven:

I am in a very bad mood, a very bad state actually...a state of sadness and confusion..of being undermined and treated like a 5 year old who can't make sense of the life of a 21 year old they're living. I spoke out. And I don't know if I'll regret it..I hope you are all doing tons better than I am and are enjoying the joyful spring!

edit: I love the fact that this post got more than 10 comments! For the first time in my blogistry!

Monday, March 23, 2009

I forcefully tagged myself :)
With as much creativity as you can muster, show your heart in:
1 picture

I don't know where I got this picture, I had saved it a long time ago..But I am in love with everything it is. I love how it also involves writing.

1 poem

Even
After
All this time
The sun never says to the earth,

"You owe
Me."

Look
What happens
With a love like that,
It lights the
Whole
Sky.

Hafiz

1 song or piece of music

1 phrase or quote

[Noor 24:35] Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth; the example of His light is like a niche in which is a lamp; the lamp is in a glass; the glass is as if it were a star shining like a pearl, kindled by the blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west – it is close that the oil itself get ablaze although the fire does not touch it; light upon light; Allah guides towards His light whomever He wills; and Allah illustrates examples for mankind; and Allah knows everything." --Quran

1 item of clothing

excuse my facial expression, I was eating licorice! but that's me at the back...and the pretty dress my boyfriend got me! I love it because it's very incredibly versatile. I also love my mustard colored Longchamp.

Today, I didn't go to work, went and got my transcripts from university and met up with my boyfriend's stepmom, who paid for me to get a haircut! She's seriously sweet, I have only seen her twice..I have met her son today, too, for the first time, and his mother in law.
I have the most amazing boyfriend in the world, have I mentioned that before? I think I have! But I had lost my phone and he asked his dad to get me another one, which he has. I love his dad!
Oh, I just love everyone now. Except for the sun, who has decided not to shine today.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

I can't believe it's Spring! I just can't..
Today I listened to Yellow as I drove to work, that song makes me happy;

Look at the stars, look how they shine for you
And all the things you do
Yeah, they were all yellowI came along, I wrote a song for you
And everything you do
And it was called yellow

I saw a white seventies van parked under a blooming tree, and it was all surrounded by pink and red flowers. Very new and vibriant.. I can't get that image out of my mind, I, at that moment, had wished I had my camera.

Yesterday, I did some catching up with my very good (very old) friend Hayek! And he got me great coffee, and showed my Heliopolis on GPS!

So, speaking of Spring, I want to show you a beautiful place: Wadi El Rayan, in Fayoum, Egypt (my family is originally from Fayoum!)

Now this is going to be a bit corny..but it's just that whenever I read it, I feel..oh so happy! This is something Mohammed wrote for me while I was away;

She's in my mind sipping her coffee
Her scent captures my senses
and I sink
into thoughts of her doing all the things
that make her happy
I sink again
She's sitting silently
perhaps in a starbucks nearby
Reading a book

probably one of the hundreds she always buys
I smile
I never realized how beautiful she looks when she reads
or drinks her coffee
she smiles at me
I kiss her on the forehead
yes I’m right there
exactly where I want to be
looking at the face that shines only for me
I begin to believe
she's not far away
for I’m right there
sinking in my head
thinking of her
knowing she's across the red sea
thinking of me
drawing that mind-blowing smile of hers
on her caramel-colored face
and I sink, into the big picture of us
such a large unknown space

December 15th 2008

Oh oh and last but not least! There is a giveaway at Her Library Adventures! Go check it (and there might be a chance for you to win one of her pretty, pretty artwork!)

There are some people in your life, who make the dreariest of days bright. The coldest of days warm. Effortlessly; for all they need to do is smile. Smile and your life is a better place, your day is suddenly rainbow-like.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

I usually like my pictures center alligned but I don't know what's wrong with blogger..
And now it's further messing it up!

Yesterday as I was driving back home, I can swear the air smelt like Mohammed...it did. It did smell like him, I don't know if it happens.. that when you miss someone, they get into your air. He was in the air!

I like to think that at that very moment, the air to him, smelt like me...I like to think that this was the Earth's way of letting me know I am not lonely...or at least make me feel like I am not.How could it be that the very same world that makes such nice gestures could give you very unpleasant surprises at times?

I am the kind of person who doesn't hold grudges for I firmly believe they are the heaviest load to carry around as you walk down the roads and alleys of your life. I have been mad at her for never calling, for being too busy (and MY being busy as well) but I still liked catching up with her over a cup of coffee.

“Fear is the original sin. Almost all of the evil in the world has its origin in the fact that some one is afraid of something.”Lucy Maud Montgomery (The Blue Castle)

Also From the website:

If nature has made you a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart. And though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that. Frances Hodgson Burnett

I realized that I find the color white inspiring, as well as pastel colors. I also find bright colors inspiring. And in all I find beauty...and then I come to think about it to realize they are all but light. There is beauty in light. And inspiration in light.

I am the youngest person here...and in that, I have finally realized that I am, after all, still very young! I have also come to the realization that I don't want a desk job. I want a job that is fulfilling...in which you see, touch and feel your accomplishments. A job that puts a smile on other people's faces. A job where you get to move a lot. Laugh a lot and stay in the sun for a while.

Monday, March 16, 2009

In an attempt to appreciate women, today is the "Egyptian Woman"'s very own day. So let's pretend we don't get harrassed on the streets, or while driving..let's ignore all the demeaning comments we get from low and middle class men. Let's pretend, for a day, that we are appreciated.On harassment

I am currently trying to put off the most tedious of all tasks, updating..or rather creating the online circulation list (work)..the list is an 86-page one. So it's basically huge...and it is so boring doing it! Very!

I have been thinking of totally changing my career..Apart from the recession..or rather as a way around it; the Egyptian Council of Ministers is offering a train the trainers course.You get paid 2000 LE a month for while taking the course (2 months) and then you get to be a certified trainer and your pay basically doubles (At least). Now, it is not about the moneym but rather the sense of accomplishment I would get. I think it is such a fulfilling career..I know economics is what I have studied..but then..uh! I don't know.

When I pronounce the word Future,
the first syllable already belongs to the past. When I pronounce the word Silence,
I destroy it. When I pronounce the word Nothing,
I make something no non-being can hold. Wislawa Szymborska - Poetry: The Three Oddest
Words

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Yesterday, I finally went to the gym!!
I am so happy and so full of energy! I have to apologize for my last post; very grumpy indeeed! I am so thankful for this blog. I really am.
Want to know about my weekend? My weekend was tiring yet divine. Jazz, high spirits, AIESEC and working out!

The Cairo Jazz Festival Opening was amazing, I love the Riff Band and the classics they play, followed by the Moonbase project, which was increasingly funky! That was on Thursday.

On Friday, I woke up really early, grabbed a coffee, and went to help the AIESEC people with setting up the place for the MENA XLDS opening ceremony, then went to the Global Village venue to help a bit there, too. I am very very very proud to say that Mohammed organized both events and had done a very good job at that...

I went home after 15 hours, and crashed on the pillow. Yesterday was entirely spent relaxing at home with my siblings, then I decided it was time for me to go to the gym. I have my camera with me but not yet the cable...I realized uploading the pictures on facebook first would be a good idea.

Get to know me

I am a sunny person.
I can be reckless, impulsive and dependent.
I can be stupid.
I cry. I am a happy soul. One that is random.
I want to keep records of my life for days to come, to show my children. And for those days when my memory fails me.
I believe in growing. And not growing up; you grow in all directions- not just up.
I believe in me.